A Christmas Duet

Chapter Six

Although the weather was well below freezing, Hailey could feel the heat fill her cheeks. Generally, her head wasn’t turned by an attractive man. Something about his rugged good looks and his smile got to her in ways she found hard to understand. She supposed it was because he was nothing like what she’d expected. Jethro Cantor took her completely by surprise. Quickly looking away, she shook her head and managed to mumble, “It was nothing important.”

Jethro nodded and glanced toward the cabin. “Mom said something about a rabid raccoon chasing you.”

“I…don’t have much experience with raccoons, no experience, if the truth be known, so I can’t be sure if it was rabid or just ticked off that I’d invaded its territory. What I do know is that he reared up on his hind legs and hissed.”

“Not exactly the welcome you’d expected.”

“You can say that again. By the way, I’m Hailey Morgan. I really appreciate you helping me, Jethro.”

Jethro grimaced when she mentioned his name. “Please call me Jay. My mother and a few of the locals are the only ones who use my given name.”

“I will say you don’t look much like a Jethro.”

From the look he gave her, Hailey had the feeling she wasn’t the first one to mention it. “Jethro was my grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s name. My grandparents only had daughters, so Mom felt it necessary for me to carry on the family name.”

Although she didn’t say it aloud, Hailey thought, Lucky you .

“Is the house locked?”

In her rush to escape, Hailey hadn’t thought to relock the front door.

“No…frightened as I was, I didn’t…”

“No problem. It’s doubtful anyone would break in around here.”

“Other than forest creatures,” she reminded him.

What followed was a short laugh. “Point taken.”

Hailey smiled in return.

“Okay, stay here, and I’ll go inside and do what I can to convince Mr. Raccoon to find other housing arrangements.”

Hailey expelled a sigh of gratitude. “I really appreciate your doing this…Only would you mind checking to be sure no one else from the animal kingdom has taken up residence?”

“Sure thing.”

Armed with thick gloves and a flashlight, Jay entered the house.

Because she was curious, Hailey ventured onto the porch. Stepping up to the large front window, she leaned forward and framed her face with her hands to see what she could make of Jay’s progress.

At first all that was visible was the beam from his flashlight. The light swept the room and then disappeared. Hailey gasped, afraid Jay had fallen or been overcome by the raccoon. Unsure what to do, she was about to brave the beast herself when the electricity flickered on. Greatly relieved, she placed her hand over her heart. Jay must have found the panel Thelma had mentioned. It had probably been out of her line of sight.

Even with the lights on, Hailey couldn’t see Jay. An eternity seemed to pass, long enough for the cold to seep into her bones and for her to start to worry. Hailey wrapped her arms around her middle, far more interested in what was happening inside the house to worry about the cold.

All at once he came into view. Hailey hurried to the front door just as Jay openedit.

“Are you hurt? Is the raccoon gone? Will he be back? Is there anything I need to do?” The questions gushed out of her like water from a broken pipe.

Raising his hand to stop her, Jay smiled. “One question at a time, please.”

Nodding vigorously, she inhaled a huge breath to center herself. Once she felt composed, she asked, “Were you hurt?”

“Not a scratch.”

Her shoulders sagged with relief.

“That isn’t to say that your rabid raccoon took kindly to being ousted from his cozy quarters. But I managed to get him to leave, which took a bit longer than I expected. Have you been standing out here all that time?”

Teeth chattering, she nodded.

“Come inside. I’ll get the fireplace going and you’ll be warm soon enough.”

“But the raccoon…Will he be back?”

“Not a chance,” Jay said in a clear effort to reassure her. “I found where he came in and have temporarily blocked the entrance.”

“Temporarily?” Her eyes widened with the question.

“No worries. The intruder won’t be a problem for tonight. That hole will need to be repaired, but that doesn’t need to happen until later.”

“Later? How much later?” Hailey couldn’t imagine facing Rocky Raccoon again. He’d frightened her out of her wits the first time. She wouldn’t welcome a second introduction.

Hailey’s mind whirled at tornado speed, wondering who she could find to complete the work. Should she connect with Katherine’s family, or had they already left for their skiing vacation? The only way she could reach them would be from town, since she had no cell coverage at the cabin. She hadn’t anticipated any of these problems, and they felt overwhelming.

Jay must have sensed her anxiety, because he added, “I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning.”

Jay was willing to do that for her. Hailey hardly knew what to say.

“Let’s get you inside. I promise it’s safe. I’ll get the fire going and the cabin will warm up in no time.”

“Can I help?” she asked, eager to do something to prove she wasn’t completely useless.

“Can you light a fire?”

“Sure.” It couldn’t be that difficult. Her parents had a gas fireplace and it worked with a handy remote. She’d been in Girl Scouts for a time. Her father had uprooted the family for another move before she had a chance to attend camp. All it took to light a fire was paper and a match, right?

“There’s kindling by the fireplace; go ahead and get it started while I carry in a few logs from outside.”

Earlier, Hailey had noticed a stack of firewood a few yards in the clearing before the forest. Happy to be given a task, she immediately went to work. The kindling was in a wooden box on the right of the stone fireplace. She guessed the rounded rock that made up the fireplace must have come from this area. She found matches and faded newspapers there as well. She was in business.

Crumbling up the paper, she placed those items down first. Next, she set the smaller pieces of kindling in a nice teepee to be sure the flames would catch. She was rather proud of her efforts. Brushing her hands free of grit, Hailey felt infused with the frontier spirit. Thelma, Jay’s mother, implied she would last only a few days in these rustic conditions. Hailey was determined to prove the older woman wrong.

Leaning forward, Hailey was about to light the match when something brushed over her head, mussing her hair. Breathless, she fell back, landing on her haunches.

At first, she assumed whatever had dive-bombed her head was a large flying bug. Then it dawned on her. This was no bug.

That was a bat.

Scrambling, she struggled to a standing position and flew out the door and screamed for Jay.

He came running up the steps with a load of firewood in his arms, which he promptly dropped as he raced to her side.

With her throat closed off, Hailey found it difficult to speak. Instead, she raised her arm, aimed it behind her at the open door, and managed to get out the lone word: “Bats.”

“In the chimney?”

“The…house.”

“Okay, stay here, and I’ll see what I can do to get them outside. You don’t need to be afraid, Hailey. Bats contribute a lot to the environment.”

“Which is where they should be, don’t you think, and not making nests in a cabin?”

“True. You had a scare.”

That was putting it mildly.

“Take a deep breath, blow it out, and relax.”

Easy for him to say. Jay hadn’t had a bat tangle in his hair.

An hour later, the cabin was bat-free as far as Jay could determine. The fireplace crackled as the wood burned, warming the room. Jay had helped Hailey uncover all the furniture.

Hailey had long since lost track of time. By now, she’d hoped to have unpacked her car, made up her bed, eaten dinner, and been sitting in front of the fireplace, playing her guitar. Up until this point, she hadn’t accomplished any of what she’d hoped. Her escape had gotten off to a rocky start. The only thing she could do was go with the flow.

Once the fire was at the flame point, she knew she couldn’t keep Jay any longer.

“Thank you,” she said. “I…I don’t know what I would have done without you. The raccoon, and the bats, and everything else. A simple thank-you doesn’t seem like enough. I’d like to pay you for your efforts.”

His eyes widened and he adamantly shook his head. “My mother would be outraged if she knew you tried to pay me. It’s neighbor helping neighbor.”

“But—”

Stopping her, Jay held up a hand. “Arguing will do you no good. It’s not our way. My mom is a longtime friend of the Stockton family and would take it as an insult.”

Hailey hardly knew what to say. His generosity was unexpected. “All right, I’ll graciously accept that you don’t want payment. Thank you again.” She was sincere. Jay had gone above and beyond what she could have expected.

He arched his thick brows. “Are you looking to be rid of me?”

“Ah, no. I assumed you wanted to get back into town.”

“I do. All in good time, though. You haven’t unpacked your vehicle. I thought I could help with that.”

Once again, Hailey was speechless at his thoughtfulness. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”

After the day she’d had, it would be foolish to refuse. As loaded down as her car was, it would take a dozen trips to get what she’d packed inside the house. “You don’t need to, but seeing that you volunteered, then I will accept with gratitude.”

Hailey followed Jay outside and opened the trunk. Then, reaching inside the back seat, she grabbed the bags of food she’d packed at Katherine’s recommendation.

She carried the two bags into the kitchen. Jay followed her inside. “Go ahead and get that stuff stored while I bring in the rest of what’s there.”

Noticing a package of hot cocoa at the top of the first paper grocery bag, she had an idea.

“How about if I fix us a cup of hot chocolate?” she asked.

“That sounds great,” Jay called over his shoulder on his way outside. He was careful to close the door to prevent the heat from escaping. When he returned, he automatically headed for the bedroom. “My guess is you want your suitcase and the other items in the downstairs bedroom.”

“Yes, please.” Hailey had a pot filled with water when she faced the stovetop. It was gas. She hesitated and assumed it couldn’t be that much different from other burners. After twisting the dial, a clicking sound happened, but no flame appeared.

Jay joined her. “After a long period of disuse, it might need to be lit.”

Within a few seconds, Jay had the burner going and the other three lit. “You shouldn’t have a problem from here on out.”

Hailey felt like she’d done nothing but thank him from the moment he’d arrived. “Thanks again,” she called after him, as he made one last trip to her car. Once again, he thoughtfully closed the front door.

While he continued to lug in her things, Hailey unpacked the grocery bags. She didn’t have a clue what she’d been thinking. In her rush to escape, she’d randomly selected what she’d assumed she would need. Interestingly, she’d brought butter but no bread. A jar of peanut butter and popcorn seeds. Individual packed creamers and no coffee.

Jay appeared again, her guitar case in his hand. Thankfully, she hadn’t missed packing the most important item.

“Do you play?” he asked.

She shrugged. “A little. You?”

“I pluck away now and again myself.” He said this in an offhand manner, as if he was something of an amateur.

Just from the way he said it, Hailey strongly suspected he was downplaying his ability.

When the water started to boil, Hailey brought down two mugs from the kitchen cabinet and poured the powdered mix into each one before adding the water and stirring. This was the best she could do without milk. Taking the small creamers, she tore open three for each cup, hoping that would help the flavor.

Jay carried both mugs to the couch that was angled close to the fireplace. Hailey curled up against the couch arm, winding her stocking feet under her.

Despite her lack of the proper ingredients, the cocoa tasted wonderful, warming her from the inside out.

“I have a protein bar if you’d like one,” she offered, hoping to find a way to tangibly show her appreciation.

“No, thanks, I ate earlier.”

Jay sipped the hot liquid. “From the things you brought, it doesn’t look like you intend to stay a while.”

“I’ll head back a day or two before New Year’s,” she told him.

“Anyone joining you?”

“Nope. It’ll just be me.”

He frowned. “You mean to say you’ll be spending Christmas alone?”

“Yup. By choice.”

He gave her an odd look and didn’t question her further. Hailey didn’t volunteer any additional information.

When he finished his drink, Jay rose and carried his empty mug into the kitchen, setting it in the sink. “Seeing that it will take a bit for the bedroom to warm up, I’d suggest you sleep on the couch tonight.”

That was a good idea. “Okay.”

He walked into the long hallway that led to the bathroom and laundry area and returned with a thick comforter and a pillow. “I spent enough time up here as a kid to know where things are kept.” He set everything down on the end of the couch.

Hailey knew she would have eventually found what she needed. Jay bringing it to her was a help, though.

He lingered for a moment. “I better head back before Mom starts to wonder where I am. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Hailey walked him to the front door. “Thanks again, Jay.”

He nodded, accepting her appreciation as he headed down the stairs. “Happy to be of help.”

Hailey closed the door, leaned against it, and sighed. Her adventure was just starting. Next would come the music.